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Another year is coming quickly to a close. Whether this past year was good or bad for you, give yourself a pat on the back if you’re reading this: You made it! (Unless you’re a ghost who haunts blogs in the afterlife, we’re going to assume that you’re alive and doing relatively well if you’re scrolling through this post!).

However, now that another year has ended, we all have to face something rather scary… Birthdays.

As another year approaches, we all have to face the reality of getting another year older. And that can be a little panic-inducing, especially for women.

We’re constantly warned of the negative aspects of aging. We’re told that our sex appeal is going to go down, that we might get osteoporosis or other health issues, and that everything is going to get a lot harder.

Well, the good news is, 80% of illnesses and injuries that people get when they’re older are preventable. Yes, we have to be a little more careful as we age (don’t forget your sunscreen when heading outdoors!), but that doesn’t mean we have to tape “FRAGILE: Handle with Care!” labels all over our bodies and sit in a corner at home afraid of the world.

In fact, getting older can be pretty great.

As Groucho Marx once said, “Getting older is no problem. You just have to live long enough.”

1. You’re a Survivor

The truth is, getting older isn’t easy. Each year, we’re all faced with various trials and tribulations that put us to the test. We face financial setbacks, soul-crushing losses, frustrating disappointments, and any number of other challenges throughout the year.

But, if you make it to another birthday, then you’ve proven that you’re better than those negative experiences. You’re a survivor.

Each birthday you celebrate is a trophy that testifies that you were strong enough to survive another year. That you beat the odds and came out a winner. And we think that’s pretty rad.

2. You’re Generally Happier

A recent study from the University of Warwick in England surveyed 10,000 people in the United States and the Britain. Their findings? The people who were older expressed the highest level of happiness with their lives.

The older you get, the more positive-minded you become. You begin to appreciate the little things that you took for granted when you were younger. And that attitude of gratitude improves your life overall!

3. There are Pills for That

We all know about the “little blue pill” for older men, but guess what – they have pills now for women too!

If you’re experiencing a decrease in sexual desire now that you’re getting older: all is not lost. There are plenty of things you can do to ramp things up in the bedroom. That might mean taking a trip to the pharmacy, or, you can get creative with lubes (something we discussed in our post about menopause).

When it comes to sexual intimacy, you’re only as old as you feel. If you still want “it,” there are plenty of ways to get it. 😉

Not to mention, once you do have sex, the experience might be better than it ever was before!  A survey of people over the age of 60 found that 74% of men and 70% of women reported a greater sexual satisfaction than when they were in their 40s.

4. You Make Fewer Mistakes

With age comes experience.

You’re less likely to make mistakes or fall into the same traps you did when you were younger. There will be plenty of new challenges and adventures to be had as you age, but there are also plenty of “been there, done that” situations as well.

You now know not to eat ice-cream for dinner, or overdraft on your bank account, or believe that your boyfriend was “just curious” when you notice he has a Grindr app on his phone.

5. Fewer Headaches (Literally!)

Dr. Carl Dahlof, founder of the Gothenburg Migraine Clinic in Gothenburg conducted a study on nearly 400 people over the course of 12 years. The results?

• 80% reported fewer migraines
• 55% reported significantly less duration of migraines
• 66% reported that the pain intensity had decreased
• Only 1% reported their migraines becoming more frequent.

And anyone who’s ever had a migraine knows just how awesome that research sounds. Migraines are the friggin’ worst! Most of us would gladly get older in order to be rid of them.

6. You Gain Control of Your Fitness

Not only are older people more aware of the benefits of fitness in general, they’re more prepared when they decide to take control of it.

Many younger athletes will attempt running a marathon with little to no preparation and end up failing miserably (or, worse, getting injured!). Whereas older athletes know from experience the value of being mentally and physically prepared for any fitness undertaking.

Again, with age comes experience. And that includes your fitness regime.

7. You Just Don’t Care

Older people just don’t give AF. And that’s wonderful!

As you get older, you care about less things (in a good way) and are able to sit back and enjoy your life more.

You no longer have to worry about being the prom queen, or what the cute guy in chem class might think of your new glasses, or whether it’s “wrong” to wear white shoes after Labor Day.

You’re old enough to know what matters in life, and to not care about anything else.

So here’s to another year! *raises glass* Let’s all get older and wiser together. And thank you for sticking with Fab Fit Travel!